430, should I buy?

JBMac · Jun 5, 2013

I'm normally not a JD man, but I have what I think may be a great opportunity: a neighbor a couple miles away asked me to look at his tractor, PTO was making a racket. I drove over today to find a 430, don't know the year. I guess it's what you would call a wide front. It started up and ran like a champ. When the Pto is engaged and the mower starts running, there's a loud knock coming from below the gear shifter. I don't know much about these, and only thought I could help him if it was something obvious. It looks like its been painted years ago with a paint brush, has the usual leaks and weeps, tires have cracks but 90% tread, 2 new ones on the front. He called a local shop and they said they would give him scrap value or it would be $ 500 just to open it up. He said " if somebody would give me $600, I'd use it as a down payment on a new compact hydrostatic my wife could use" what is the likely culprit and could I repair and make a few bucks? Seems like a good deal, what do y'all think? I can provide pictures and serial #s tomorrow if yall think its worth pursuing.

Larry Baker · Jun 5, 2013

Cluster gear,all day job and about 700 to fix if thats all

I would buy it for that if it was close,not a bad job just time or I"d fix it for him if it was close

Nick m · Jun 5, 2013

If it's the same gear that was toast in my grandpas, it cost him around $300 for the gear. Took us about 45min to split it and we only kind of know what we're doing. One of the two gears under the cover on the very front of the transmission had a couple teeth missing. Did it when he was brush hogging.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 5, 2013

I would be interested in the tractor for that price.
Where are you all located?

430WLPG · Jun 5, 2013

It's worth that even if you don't fix it and just never use the pto

Dave H · Jun 6, 2013

How does the tractor drive when the pto is not engaged.

Are you just setting in neutral when you engage the pto and the knock occurs.

OhioTractorGuy · Jun 6, 2013

Id be there with my trailer without a second thought at that price. The tractor running should be worth two to three times that at a minimum. If you buy it and decide its not for you send me an e-mail.

JBMac · Jun 6, 2013

Yes, it's in neutral, no knock until the PTO is engaged and the shaft gets up to speed. We are located in North Florida, near Gainesville. I think I'm going to go ahead with the purchase. I'll try to get some photos up. Thank you all very much for replies.

430, should I buy?

JBMac

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Larry Baker

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Nick m

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Anonymous-0

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430WLPG

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Dave H

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OhioTractorGuy

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JBMac

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